Juliet Flashcards
(16 cards)
Overview
Shakespeare uses the character of Juliet as a vehicle to bring attention to the dangers of love, especially when pursued with such haste. Initially, Juliet adopts a measured approach which exceeds that of her age. She appears insightful in her observations, maintaining the echo chamber of her parents but quickly becomes besotted by Romeo which results in her increasingly reckless behaviour
Opening quotes
‘It is an honour that I dream not of’
‘I’ll look to like, if looking liking move;’
‘O Romeo Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo?’
Middle - quotes
‘sin’, ‘pilgrim’, ‘holy’, ‘saint’
‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet;’
‘I’ll to my wedding bed ‘ & ‘take my maidenhead’
End - quotes
‘Indeed I shall never be satisfied/ With Romeo, till I behold him—dead—/is my poor heart’
‘To help me sort such needful ornaments/ As you think fit to furnish me tomorrow?’
‘Then I’ll be brief. O happy dagger/ This is thy sheath’
Beginning opening
At the start of the play, Juliet is presented as obedient and composed, aware of her social expectations as a young noblewoman. However, Shakespeare also hints at her independence and capacity for deeper emotional insight, laying the groundwork for her later development.
‘It is an honour that I dream not of’
- Juliet ostensibly compliant when her mother brings up the topic of marriage, calling it an “honour.”,
- speaks in a way that does not disagree with her parents but at the same time does not disagree with her own opinion
- However, her statement that she has not dreamed of it reveals that she is not personally invested in the idea.
- This shows a subtle resistance—she does not outright reject her duty, but neither does she accept it blindly.
- Shakespeare uses this moment to highlight Juliet’s awareness of patriarchal expectations while also planting early seeds of independence.
‘I’ll look to like, if looking liking move;’
- Here, Juliet continues to appear obedient, agreeing to consider Paris as a potential husband.
- The short speech and assonance make her sound diplomatic and demonstrates obedience as she understands her role
- The conditional “if” shows she is not fully convinced, and the phrase “look to like” implies that any affection she might feel must grow naturally.
- The iambic pentameter paired with alliteration give her speech a lyrical, almost playful tone, indicating control over language and perhaps foreshadowing the rebellious Juliet
‘O Romeo Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo?’
- The repetition of “Romeo” thrice emphasises her longing, but “wherefore” (meaning why) shows that her grief is rooted not in his absence but in his name—his identity as a Montague.
- This line reflects her awareness that their love is forbidden due to a family feud she finds meaningless.
- knowledge that she cannot convey this desire to her parents
- her wiseness juxtaposes with the futility of the feud
- Even at a young age, Juliet understands that the family conflict means that her and Romeo cannot be together, but she questions the value of inherited hatred.
Middle opening
As the play progresses, Juliet evolves from a compliant daughter into a passionate and independent young woman. Shakespeare presents her as emotionally intelligent, capable of deep love, and increasingly rebellious against societal constraints.
‘sin’, ‘pilgrim’, ‘holy’, ‘saint’
- In her first interaction with Romeo, Juliet engages in a shared sonnet filled with religious imagery.
- Words like “pilgrim” and “saint” elevate their love to something sacred, contrasting with the lustful way Romeo previously spoke about Rosaline
- They exchange in a Shakespearean Sonnet symbolising how they are perfect for each other
- Only by joining their words can the sonnet be formed which represents how they can only find completion when together
- Juliet leads on from Romeo’s rhymes suggesting that although she understands the flaws of the patriarchy, it is still deeply engrained in society
- perhaps she’s so besotted with him, she wants to follow him
‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet;’
- Juliet reflects on the meaningless nature of the feud and the barriers they create.
- Her willingness to renounce her family name for Romeo shows her rejection of the feud and her pursuit of true love, which transcends all social constructs
- Shakespeare presents her as thoughtful and insightful, more concerned with personal connection than social expectations.
- Alternatively, this could be seen as impulsive and idealistic—she overlooks the danger of disregarding societal rules. Either way, this moment highlights her passionate and independent mindset.
‘I’ll to my wedding bed ‘ & ‘take my maidenhead’
- Juliet’s grief after Romeo kills Tybalt reveals the depth of her inner conflict.
- Despite her sadness, she chooses love over hatred, showing how love is ultimately paramount
- The imagery of “wedding bed” and “maidenhead” references virginity and marriage, which is highly valued, and her readiness to give herself to Romeo completely, demonstrates trust and vulnerability
- The rhyming couplet elevates this emotional decision, while the juxtaposition of love and death foreshadows the play’s tragic end.
- Shakespeare presents Juliet as both emotionally vulnerable and courageous, able to prioritise love even in the face of devastation.
Ending opening
By the end of the play, Juliet is presented as fiercely loyal, emotionally resolute, and ultimately tragic. Her choices reveal both strength and recklessness, culminating in a powerful act of love that critiques the destructive power of societal division.
‘Indeed I shall never be satisfied/ With Romeo, till I behold him—dead—/is my poor heart
- Juliet cleverly appeases her mother’s opinions whilst expressing her own, doing it in a sly manner
- Her double meaning allows her to say something acceptable on the surface, while secretly expressing her longing for Romeo.
- cunning as ostensibly this infers she hates Romeo which satisfies her mother, maintaining echo chamber
- This marks a shift in her character—she becomes more strategic and deceptive, a result of her impulsive love or perhaps as a response to the pressures of her situation.
- Shakespeare uses this moment to show how Juliet balances obedience with personal loyalty.
‘To help me sort such needful ornaments/ As you think fit to furnish me tomorrow?’
- Juliet pretends to accept the wedding with Paris, using language full of irony.
- Calling the wedding items “ornaments” reduces them to decorative objects, suggesting how she views the entire event as superficial, while also emphasising how women are viewed as a vessel for sex in the patriarchal society, simply to be possessed
- The verb “furnish” dehumanises her, as though she is a space to be filled or dressed.
- Her polite tone borders on sarcastic, which may amuse the audience while also criticising how women are treated as possessions.
- her comments sound almost obsequious which adds to ridicule
- Juliet’s deception here highlights her growing independence and defiance of patriarchal norms.
‘Then I’ll be brief. O happy dagger/ This is thy sheath’
- Juliet’s final act is a reckless and impulsive decision, as shown through her declaration, “I’ll be brief,” which contrasts with her usual thoughtful speech and reveals how little consideration she gives to the impact on her family.
- The oxymoron “happy dagger” suggests that she finds peace only in death, where she can be reunited with Romeo.
- By personifying the dagger, she treats it almost as a companion or a means to reach her lover.
- Her body becomes the “sheath” for the dagger, a powerful image showing how they are physically and symbolically complementary.
- Shakespeare links love and violence here, illustrating how inseparable they have become in Juliet’s world.
- The abruptness of her death, following a play filled with poetic dialogue, adds to the emotional weight.
- The final image of three young bodies lying dead on stage reinforces the tragic futility of a feud that has destroyed lives barely involved in its origin.
